According to the India Today MOTN (Mood of the Nation) survey, public concern about the current state of Indian democracy is high. With 43.7 percent of respondents in the latest survey saying they thought democracy was in danger – although marginally less than in the last MOTN on 21 August – the trend of thought remains worryingly stable.
In a healthy democracy, citizens participate vigorously and effectively in shaping the policies and laws by which they are governed. Democratic constitutions provide for elected legislatures for citizens’ representatives to formulate new policies and pass laws. What is essential is a process of democratic consultation among the citizens themselves.
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Of the four pillars of democracy in India, in the opinion of 34 per cent of MOTN respondents, the judiciary does the best job in maintaining democratic norms, followed by the media at 20.3 per cent. While the legislature only got 13.4 percent—perhaps a reflection of a dysfunctional parliament—sadly, the executive has only 10.4 percent of the confidence. Clearly, the courts are the bastions of citizens’ rights—or feelings. There is also a growing belief that the judiciary must balance the government’s excesses, with 56 per cent of the respondents saying so, an increase of two percentage points since August 2021. There has been a decline of 29 percent from 32 percent in the same period. The perception that the judiciary is unnecessarily interfering in matters relating to governance. These are certainly immediate signs of growing public unrest in the specter of elected authoritarianism and the need to build strong institutions for citizen participation in democratic governance.
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Graphics by Asit Roy
The right to publicly protest and protest in cases of financial impropriety, as well as the enforcement of the law, are both a matter of concern. Our governments have notoriously relied on colonial-origin sedition laws to suppress voices of dissent. Less than half (48.9 percent) of those polled believe that fear of arrest makes people afraid to protest or express themselves in any public forum. That said, 51 percent of respondents with such apprehension voted in August 2021, suggesting a slight decrease in this perception.
When it comes to fighting that everlasting corruption, corruption, majority of the respondents (55.5 per cent) believe that the Narendra Modi government has been effective in reducing it. Over 41 per cent believe that government agencies like CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), ED (Enforcement Directorate), IT (Income Tax) Department and Central Vigilance Commission are better placed to exercise control through their searches and inquiries. are equipped. Corruption. Others (19.9 per cent) believe that courts are the best investigation, while 13.5 per cent have banks to act on the ombudsman.
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Privacy is a huge concern for those using digital media such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp (56.4 percent); 35.7 percent of the respondents expressed concern and disappointment on the issue. Another 20.7 percent are concerned about privacy, but are actively taking action to protect themselves. Several experts point to the recent original traceability laws as a particular threat to data security and online privacy of Indian citizens.
Analysts believe that while there exists a legitimate interest of the state in monitoring, it is equally important to ensure transparency and accountability in the functioning of government agencies. They say it is important to conduct a nationwide study of the technology requirements of law enforcement agencies, streamline the process of accessing digital evidence, and build the capacity of law enforcement agencies to analyze metadata.
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More reassuringly, the perception that India has become safe for women has spread to 43.8 percent of MOTN respondents. It was just 38.8 per cent in August 2021. Similarly, the MOTN survey reveals a growing belief that communal harmony has improved under the NDA government. That’s the view of 45.5 percent of respondents – still a significant increase from the 34 percent recorded in the August 2021 MOTN survey, but lower than the January 2021 poll, which saw 55 percent.
Graphics by Asit Roy
Graphics by Asit Roy
On the issue of implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), MOTN revealed an overwhelming number of 72.7 per cent respondents favor such a move. This is an increasing trend (65 percent of respondents expressed the same view in an August 2021 MOTN poll). The UCC will provide a law for the entire country, which will apply to all religious communities in their personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption.
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The government says that the legislature will have to create a UCC at its discretion. It has allowed the matter to remain there for some time saying that the views of the Law Commission on the matter are awaited. The Law Commission is trying to codify various personal laws of different communities. Meanwhile, on January 7, the Supreme Court has given the government a “last opportunity” to clarify its stand and directed that all petitions on the matter pending in high courts be transferred to it for adjudication. But it seems clear from the recent affidavit submitted by the government to the Delhi High Court that the government does not consider the matter for judicial settlement. This has indicated that the UCC is a policy matter to be decided by the legislature—and that only the government will decide the specifics and timing of the decision. It is worth noting that Goa has had a UCC since 1965, which applies to all its residents.
Substance abuse is a growing trend. On 21 December, Parliament passed a bill to rectify the errors in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The reform will be followed by another amendment as the central government is working to reduce individual consumption of medicines in small quantities. Narcotic and psychotropic substances. More changes are being made in the NDPS Act, while seizures of banned substances are on the rise. The NDPS Act also prohibits the use of cannabis and is being challenged in courts on various grounds including medicinal and industrial use. However, more than half of the MOTN respondents (50.4 percent) are opposed to making cannabis a crime in India.
Yet, despite the relatively slow pace at which meaningful reforms are being brought in, a majority of respondents (75 per cent) said they are very or somewhat happy with the pace of change in the country. The bigger picture is more of a story by comparison. The WHR20 Happiness Report, released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network in March 2021, compares their own perceptions of citizens’ well-being in 153 countries. According to the report, Indian citizens are the least happy in the world: India ranks at a very low 144th.
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